Evacuation volume for a refrigeration system

Abstract

A refrigeration system including a pair of heat exchangers, a hermetic compressor assembly having a compressor housing containing refrigerant fluid, fluid conveying lines and a flow restriction device forming a working refrigerant system, an evacuation volume having one of a first, substantially evacuated state and a second, fluid-containing state, a control valve located between the working refrigeration system and the evacuation volume and having an initial, closed position and an open position, and at least one refrigerant gas detector located externally of the working refrigeration system and in communication with the control valve. The evacuation volume is fluidly isolated from the working refrigeration system in the valve closed position and in fluid communication with the working refrigeration system in the valve open position. The valve is opened in response to refrigerant gas being detected by the detector, and refrigerant fluid in the working refrigeration system is sucked into the evacuation volume with the evacuation volume undergoing a change from its first to its second state and the valve resuming its said closed position when the evacuation volume is in the second state.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A refrigeration system comprising: 
       a pair of heat exchangers;  
       a hermetic compressor assembly having a compressor housing containing refrigerant fluid;  
       fluid conveying lines; and  
       a flow restriction device;  
       said heat exchangers, said compressor assembly, said lines, and said flow restriction device forming a working refrigerant system;  
       an evacuation volume having one of a first, substantially evacuated state and a second, fluid-containing state;  
       a control valve located between said working refrigeration system and said evacuation volume, said control valve having an initial, closed position and an open position, said evacuation volume being fluidly isolated from said working refrigeration system in said valve closed position and in fluid communication with said working refrigeration system in said valve open position; and  
       at least one refrigerant gas detector located externally of said working refrigeration system and in communication with said control valve, said valve being opened in response to refrigerant gas being detected by said detector, whereby refrigerant fluid in said working refrigeration system is sucked into said evacuation volume and said evacuation volume undergoes a change from its first to its second state, said valve resuming its said closed position when said evacuation volume is in its said second state.  
     
     
       2. The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein said evacuation volume is in communication with said compressor housing. 
     
     
       3. The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein said evacuation volume is connected to said compressor housing. 
     
     
       4. The refrigeration system of  claim 2 , wherein said valve is moved from its said open to its said closed position in response to the pressures of fluid in said compressor housing and said evacuation volume being substantially equal. 
     
     
       5. The refrigeration system of  claim 4 , wherein a microcontroller moves said valve from its said open to its said closed position. 
     
     
       6. The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein said valve is moved from its said open to its said closed position in response to said valve having been in its said open position for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       7. The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , wherein a microcontroller moves said valve from said open position to said closed position. 
     
     
       8. The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein said evacuation volume is provided with a fitting through which fluid contained within said evacuation volume may be recovered from said evacuation volume when said valve is closed. 
     
     
       9. A refrigeration system comprising: 
       a working refrigeration system comprising:  
       a hermetic compressor assembly having a compressor housing containing refrigerant fluid;  
       a pair of heat exchangers;  
       a flow restriction device; and  
       fluid conveying lines, in series connection;  
       an evacuation volume located externally of said compressor housing and having one of a first, substantially evacuated state and a second, fluid-containing state;  
       a control valve located between said working refrigeration system and said evacuation volume, said control valve having an open position and a closed position, said evacuation volume being fluidly isolated from said working refrigeration system in said valve closed position and in fluid communication with said working refrigeration system in said valve open position; and  
       means for detecting a refrigerant leak external to said working refrigeration system, opening said valve in response to detection of a refrigerant leak and subsequently closing said valve to maintain said evacuation volume in its said second state and fluidly isolated from said working refrigeration system.  
     
     
       10. The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein said evacuation volume is in communication with said compressor housing. 
     
     
       11. The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein said evacuation volume is connected to said compressor housing. 
     
     
       12. The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein said evacuation volume is in its said first state when said valve is opened. 
     
     
       13. The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein said means comprises at least one refrigerant gas detector. 
     
     
       14. The refrigeration system of  claim 10 , wherein said valve is moved from its said open to its said closed position in response to the pressures of fluid in said compressor housing and said evacuation volume being substantially equal. 
     
     
       15. The refrigeration system of  claim 14 , wherein a microcontroller moves said valve from said open position to said closed position. 
     
     
       16. The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein said valve is moved from its said open to its said closed position in response to said valve having been in its said open position for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       17. The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , wherein a microcontroller moves said valve from said open position to said closed position. 
     
     
       18. The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein said evacuation volume is provided with a fitting through which fluid contained within said evacuation volume may be recovered from said evacuation volume. 
     
     
       19. A method of retaining at least a portion of refrigerant fluid of a refrigeration system in the event of a refrigeration leak therefrom, comprising: 
       detecting a refrigerant leak from the system at a location external to the system;  
       opening a valve located between the housing and an initially empty evacuation chamber in response to detection of the leak;  
       receiving at least a portion of the refrigerant fluid in the compressor housing through the open valve and into the evacuation chamber; and  
       closing the valve after the evacuation chamber has received refrigerant fluid from the compressor housing.  
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
       recovering refrigerant fluid received within the evacuation when the valve is closed.  
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein closing the valve occurs after a predetermined period of time from the opening of the valve has elapsed. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein closing the valve is accomplished by a microcontroller. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 19 , wherein closing the valve occurs when the pressures of refrigerant fluid in the compressor housing and the evacuation chamber become substantially equal. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 19 , wherein closing the valve occurs when a microcontroller determines the pressures of refrigerant fluid become substantially equal. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the microcontroller monitors the pressures of refrigerant fluid. 
     
     
       26. A hermetic compressor assembly comprising: 
       a compressor housing containing refrigerant fluid;  
       a compressor mechanism located in said housing;  
       a motor assembly located in said housing and operatively coupled to said compressor mechanism;  
       an evacuation volume attached to said compressor housing, said evacuation volume located externally of said compressor housing and having one of a first, substantially evacuated state and a second, fluid-containing state;  
       a control valve located between said compressor housing and said evacuation volume, said control valve having an open position and a closed position, said evacuation volume being fluidly isolated from said compressor housing in said valve closed position and in fluid communication with said compressor housing in said valve open position;  
       at least one refrigerant gas detector located externally of said compressor housing and in communication with said control valve, said valve being opened in response to refrigerant gas being detected by said detector whereby refrigerant fluid in said compressor housing is sucked into said evacuation volume and said evacuation volume undergoes a change from its first to its second state; and  
       wherein said valve is in its said closed position when said evacuation volume is in its said second state.  
     
     
       27. The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said valve is moved from its said open to its said closed position in response to the pressures of fluid in said compressor housing and said evacuation volume being substantially equal. 
     
     
       28. The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 27 , wherein a microcontroller moves said valve from said open position to said closed position. 
     
     
       29. The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said valve is moved from its said open to its said closed position in response to said valve having been in its said open position for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       30. The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 29 , wherein a microcontroller moves said valve from said open position to said closed position. 
     
     
       31. The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said evacuation volume is provided with a fitting through which fluid contained within said evacuation volume may be recovered from said evacuation volume.